Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on March 23, 2013 under Interviews | 
The Dallas Mavericks were able to get a much-needed win over the Boston Celtics. A 104-94 victory over the Celtics ruined Jason Terry’s return to Dallas. The Mavericks never trailed against the Celtics on Friday (scored was tied four times). It marked the second time this season that Dallas recorded a victory without trailing at any point (also Jan. 14 vs. Minnesota). In the Mavericks’ 113-98 win over the Timberwolves, Dallas never trailed but the score was tied once (at 2-2).
Brandan Wright made his 13th start of the season (44th career) against the Celtics on Friday. In his 100th game with the Mavericks, Wright tallied a season and game-high 23 points to go along with a season-high-tying eight rebounds in 30 minutes. His previous high scoring game this season was a 16-point effort at Phoenix on 12/6. Shawn Marion returned to the starting lineup against the Celtics on Friday, after missing the previous eight games due to a left calf strain. Marion posted his 13th double-double of the season (417th career) with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds in 31 minutes. Marion pulled down 10 of Dallas’ 26 rebounds in the opening half.
Dirk Nowitzki totaled 22 points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes against the Celtics. He scored 20-plus points for the fourth in his last six games (13th time this season). Nowitzki is averaging 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds over his last seven games. He is shooting 54.3 percent (50-of-92) from the floor and 50 percent (11-of-22) from deep in that span.
Some notes before the quotes:
- Wright’s 23 points marked the second-highest scoring game of his career (25 points vs. Philadelphia Mar. 20, 2009). It was also just the second 20-point game of his career and his highest scoring game as a Maverick (was 17 vs. Golden State Apr. 20, 2012). Wright pulled down eight rebounds for the fourth time in his last seven games (seventh time this season). He is averaging 12.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 24.3 minutes over his last 11 games. Wright is shooting 63.3 percent (62-of-98) from the field in that span.
- The game against Boston marked the first time since Mar. 12, 2008 vs. New York that Shawn recorded 10-plus boards in the first half of a game (10 rebounds). It was also the first time he totaled 10-plus boards in any half since Apr. 10, 2012 vs. Sacramento (10 boards).
- In his return to Dallas, Jason Terry scored eight points on 3-of-9 shooting with three turnovers over 21:57. He was minus-6 overall.
- The Mavericks announced after the game that they would not sign guard Chris Wright to another 10-day contract, ending his time with Dallas.
Here is the quoteboard for Dallas’ win over Boston.
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Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on March 22, 2013 under Previews |
The Dallas Mavericks need a win in the worst way as they host the Boston Celtics. They can’t afford to start their do-or-die homestand with two consecutive losses. After missing the last eight games with a left calf strain, it appears Shawn Marion will be active for the Mavericks.
The big news is the return of Jason Terry to the American Airlines Center. This will be the first visit for Terry as an opponent after spending eight seasons with the Mavericks from 2004-11. Terry averaged 16.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 32.7 minutes in 619 games (285 starts) with Dallas. “It feels good,” Terry said on walking back into the American Airlines Center. “It feels like home, as it should.”
Among Mavericks all-time leaders, Terry ranks 6th in points (9,953), 7th in assists (2,524), 6th in field goals (3,719), 2nd in 3-pointers (1,140), 8th in free throws (1,375), 7th in 3-point field goal percentage (.388), 6th in free throw percentage (.847), 5th in steals (735), 6th in minutes (20,219) and 6th in games (619). He won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award with Dallas in 2008-09 and was a member of the Mavericks’ 2011 title team. Does the nostalgia bring back enough feelings for him to shed tears tonight? “No, I shed tears when I had to leave,” he said. “So I don’t think I have any more left.”
He said it is tough to see his former team struggle because he’s still a “Mav fan at heart,” but he’s still disappointed on how things ended in Dallas. “You like to have a fight for what you earned and we didn’t get that opportunity,” Terry said. “But I mean it’s over now, we’re past that disappointment. And we had to move on.”
It’s evident that Terry will still be well-received when he comes into the game. “Well, he’ll get a great reception,” coach Rick Carlisle said on Terry’s return. “He’s one of the most beloved players I think in the history of this franchise because of his personality, his relationship with the fans and the community and he was a great player.”
Owner Mark Cuban took it one step further. “I hope (the fans) give him a standing ovation,” Cuban said. “He’s a Maverick for life, a part of the family.”
It will be an emotional night. Hopefully, it’s a good, entertaining game.
Here are the notes for the game between the Mavericks and the Celtics.
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Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on March 8, 2013 under Rumors |
Mark Cuban spoke on ESPN Dallas Radio 103.3 FM the day after the trade deadline. Of the numerous things he discussed, he mentioned that the Mavericks were close to landing a superstar. “It was crazy,” Cuban said the day after the deadline on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM. “We thought we had a bunch of things done, literally a bunch of things done. We had teams get cold feet at the last minute. … Things that would have used cap room next year, would have had money next year, that were high-dollar guys, difference-maker guys.” Many people (sarcastic people) suggested that the players initials were BS (think about it and you’ll get it).
Reports today now suggest Cuban wasn’t fibbing. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported on Friday that the Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics were on the verge of a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline.
In a three-way deal that would’ve secured Josh Smith and surrendered Paul Pierce to Dallas, Atlanta wanted Boston’s first-round draft pick, too.
The Celtics were in talks to send Paul Pierce to Dallas at the trade deadline.
…
Dallas had constructed a package that included Jae Crowder, Brandan Wright and Dahntay Jones to Atlanta, with the Mavericks and Hawks exchanging positions in the 2013 NBA draft.
Nevertheless, Boston wouldn’t relent on the pick and the deal died on meeting-room grease boards in three cities.
Well, that’s something, isn’t it? Atlanta would have gotten the pieces they needed for a rebuilding project. Boston would have gotten a new superstar. The pieces on Dallas’ end don’t exactly match up in terms of finances, so other pieces would likely need to be involved in that suggested offer. It likely wouldn’t be pieces of a major consequence. Clearly Dallas and Atlanta were on board, but Boston was the team that put things to a halt. What would acquiring Paul Pierce mean to the Mavericks?
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Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brandan Wright, Dahntay Jones, Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Jae Crowder, Josh Smith, NBA, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter
Posted by Bryan Gutierrez on December 12, 2012 under Previews |
The Dallas Mavericks (11-10) are going for their first four-game winning streak of the year as they take on the Boston Celtics (11-9). The Mavericks are also looking to build on their two-game road winning streak. If they can win against Boston, it will be the first time they’ve won three consecutive road games this season. It will be a reunion night as the Mavericks see Jason Terry for the first time since he left the organization this summer via free agency.
To update you on players, it appears Shawn Marion will play in the game against the Celtics. He had missed the team’s previous two games due to a sprained right groin. It does appear Jae Crowder may not be available for the game as he’s battling an illness (it’s that time of the year).
Here are notes for the game between the Mavericks and the Celtics.
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